Hotspot - Home Remedy

Hotspots afflict some dogs more than others most likely due to genetic factors and environmental factors. My dog Junior suffers from them often because we live in an area where he comes in constant contact with dirt, pollen, and other irritating factors. So I want to share what I've learned that can help relieve hotspots as quick as possible and without having to go to the vet.

1. If the spot is really bad its best to cut the fur, failure to do so may result in the fur sticking together and retaining in moisture which gives bacteria an ideal environment to grow in, if it gets to this point you are going to have to cut the fur anyway so better to do it sooner than later.

2. Wash the affected area with warm water. We want to keep it clean from dirt and anything else that might make an infection worse.

3. Make sure to keep the hotspot dry, moist skin only prolongs the infection.

4. Add some Aloe gel, or if you have the plant that would be better, this helps to relieve itching and also acts as an antibiotic so that bacterial growth is controled. Leave the gel on for a few minutes and then with a piece of cotton or gauze, dry the left over aloe off, but don't completely wipe it off.

5. The aloe should have helped relieve the itching but it doesn't always do that. So its important to make sure that the pooch doesn't bite or scratch the hotspot, to do this put an e-collar or bite-not collar. If the itching and biting isn't too severe you can try putting a light jersey on your dog, this helps create a barrier from biting but also allows the area to have fresh air which is important to drying it out.

6. Repeat steps 1-5 about 2 times a day for a couple of days. This should help alleviate those nasty hotspots quickly.

If you have any other tips that worked for you feel free to share them here,

Steven

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